Umbilical binder



April 9, 1968 M. GAMPER UMBILICAL BINDER Filed Nov. 1, 1965 MyrfhaGamper IN VE N TOR.

BY 3 M g Attorney United States Patent ()fifice 3,376,865 Patented Apr.9, 1968 3,376,865 UMBILICAL BINDER Myrtha Gamper, 37 Neptunstrasse, 8032Zurich, Switzerland Filed Nov. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 505,794 Claimspriority, application Switzerland, Sept. 9, 1964, 15,988/64 3 Claims.(Cl. 128-169) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Umbilical binder in the form ofan elastic belt with a split end forming two overlapping flaps, theopposite end carrying an adhesive strip of the Velcro type (as per USPatent No. 3,054,400) which, upon insertion of the latter end betweenthe two halves, co-operates with a second, similar adhesive strip on oneof the flaps while the other flap forms a protective layer preventingcontact between the adhesive strips and an infants skin.

This invention relates to an umbilical binder which differs from knownumbilical binders by having in the longitudinal direction a belt ofelastically extensible woven fabric, for the closing of which there aretextile adhesive strips arranged at the ends of the woven fabric belt,at least one of these strips being provided with woven-in pliable hooksso that, when the two ends of the adhesive strips are laid one over theother, the books of one strip catch in the hooks and/or fiber loops ofthe other strip and thus form a smooth connection, secure butnevertheless easily detachable.

The device according to the invention enables quick and easy connectingof the ends of the umbilical binder in any desired position, butespecially in the best possible position with respect to the girth ofthe body of an infant and the elasticity of the binder. With theumbilical binder according to the invention it is no longer necessary tohave several turns round the body, as is required in the case of knownbinders in order to attain reliable seating. The binder according to theinvention not only is quicker and easier to apply, but also needs muchless material.

The accompanying drawing shows by way of example one embodiment of anumbilical binder according to the invention; in the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically the umbilical binder stretched out in aplane; and

FIG. 2 shows, also diagrammatically, the umbilical binder partly closed.

In the annexed drawing, reference numeral 1 designates a woven fabricbelt of suitable width, amounting for instance to about 10 cm. The belt1 has to be elastically extensive lengthwise, for which purpose the warpthreads running in the longitudinal direction of the strip are made ofsynthetic material, for instance of nylon thread, whilst the weftthreads may consists of cotton. The woven fabric available on the marketunder the name Helanca'has proved to be particularly suitable for theapplication in question.

Numerals 2 and 3 designate two textile adhesive strips sewn onto thebelt 1, the strip 2 being arranged on the outside of the binder on oneend of the belt while the other strip 3 is carried on an inner surfaceof a flap 5 formed at the other end of the binder. The length of each ofthese textile adhesive strips amounts to one-third of the whole lengthof the binder.

Such textile adhesive closures are known on the market as Velcroclosures. These bands are in two parts, one of which is provided on oneside with woven-in, pliable hooks which for instance may be formed bythe cut-open knops of woven-in thermoplastic threads of syntheticmaterial, for instance of nylon. The other part of the adhesive closuremay be provided on the contact side also with such woven-in hooks, oreven with longer knops lying close to each other and made of woven-inresistant threads, for instance of nylon. When these two parts contacteach other, the pliable hooks of one part catch in the hooks or knops ofthe other part.

Besides the inner end of one adhesive strip 3, one end of a protectingpiece of cloth 4 is sewn onto the belt 1 to form a second flapoverlapping the flap 5. The length of this protective cloth, which mayconveniently consist of the same kind of material as the belt 1, alsoamounts to about one-third of the length of the whole binder.

When the umbilical binder has to be applied, it is laid out fiat, asshown in FIG. 1, whereby the protecting cloth or flap 4 comes to lieover the adhesive strip 3 on the terminal portion of flap 5 of belt 1.The newborn child is now placed on its back on the middle section of thebinder, and then flap 4 is turned over onto the belly. Afterwards thebinder end carrying the external adhesive strip 2 is turned over ontothe belly from the other side, and next also the binder end 5 carryingthe inner adhesive strip 3 is laid thereover, whereby the pliable hooksof the adhesive strip 2 engage the hooks or knops of the adhesive strip3 and thus form a flat, secure, but nevertheless easily detachableclosure. The confronting flap 4 prevents the adhesive strip 3 on flap 5from coming into contact with the skin of the newborn child. If oneadhesive strip is provided with woven-in hooks, and the other adhesivestrip has knops, it is preferable that strip 2 have the hooks so thatthey come to lie on the outside of the binder.

What I claim is:

1. An umbilical binder comprising an elastic belt terminating at one endin two overlapping flaps, a first adhesive strip on one of said flapsfacing the other of said flaps, and a second adhesive strip at the otherend of said belt positioned to co-operate with said first adhesive stripupon insertion of said other end between said two flaps.

2. An umbilical binder as defined in claim 1 wherein said other flap isof greater width than each of said adhesive strips.

3. An umbilical binder as defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesivestrips are spaced from both longitudinal edges of said belt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,857,179 5/1932 Bowman 128-5793,054,400 9/1962 Lizio 128-519 3,194,234 7/1965 Duckman et al. 128-95ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

